Ziplines in San Juan Lachao

By Mike Nicklin
Photos by Dennis Miller

There is more to see and experience in Puerto Escondido than its fabulous beaches. For example, you can spend the day in a tropical forest, swim under a waterfall, and get strapped onto a series of cables that take you over otherwise inaccessible valleys. That is the zip-line trip in San Juan Lachao Nuevo. The following is from a report by Mike Nicklin.

Zip-line San Juan Lachao Nuevo

San Juan Lachao Nuevo (not to be confused with San Juan Lachao Viejo) is about 90 minutes from Puerto - including a short stretch on a dirt road. Then it’s a 20 to 30 minute hike along the river to the waterfall with its swimming hole. Along the way I saw a lot of birds and bugs and cows and coffee plants and everything else you would expect to see in a tropical forest. The walk alone was worth the trip. Be sure to bring a bathing suit, because you will be very hot after the hike and ready for a swim, before you do the zip-lines.

Zip-line San Juan Lachao Nuevo

I went with family and friends of all ages and physical conditions. Some were less than fit and were wary of the trip. In the end, everyone had a good time. You don’t have to go on the zip-lines, but you should. There are a total of five lines. The first is only 100 meters long, after that there are three of 400 meters, and one of 500. You are strapped into a halter and wear a helmet, and hooked onto a wheel (pulley) attached to a steel cable on an incline. Experienced guides accompany the group throughout and two guides catch you at the end of each line. Everything is very safe so there is not need to worry.

San Juan Lachao Nuevo

The views were fantastic, and the ride itself was not as scary as you might think. You don’t have to hold on to anything, unless you want to.

Tips: bring water to drink along the way; do not wear flip-flops;
bring snacks for lunch and a camera.

You can schedule a trip through a local travel agency for $1,000
pesos per person or you can drive to San Juan Lachao and the
same guides will charge you $500 pesos per person, minimum
two people. Mexican citizens get a $100-peso discount. Mexicans
who live on the coast and children pay $350 pesos.

It’s an hour and forty-minute drive from Puerto to San Juan
Lachao, and then a 40 minute hike to the water fall.

Take highway 131.The turn-off for San Juan Lachao is an unmarked
paved road on the left-hand side of the highway
around 55 km from Puerto. It’s around a half an hour (10 km)
north of San Gabriel. Look for a sign on the right side of the
highway for Las Palmas, and you are almost there. The town is
around 10 km from the highway.

José Olegario and Rodolfo Pérez are the local guides. Call at
least one day in advance to arrange a tour. 954 586-0229, 954
586-0027, 954 586-7647, 954 127-0790.